MicroRNA‑103a‑3p promotes metastasis by targeting TPD52 in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma

NAT10/CEBPB/vimentin signalling axis promotes adenoid cystic carcinoma malignant phenotypes in vitro

OBJECTIVE

To explore the biological function and mechanisms of CEBPB and NAT10-mediated N4-acetylcytidine (ac4c) modification in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CEBPB and NAT10 were knocked down in SACC-LM cells by siRNA transfection and overexpressed in SACC-83 cells by plasmid transfection. Malignant phenotypes were evaluated using CCK-8, Transwell migration and colony formation assays. Real-time PCR, western blotting, ChIP and acRIP were used to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved.

RESULTS

We found that CEBPB was highly expressed in SACC tissues and correlated with lung metastasis and unfavourable prognosis. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments revealed that CEBPB promoted SACC malignant phenotypes. Mechanistically, CEBPB exerted its oncogenic effect by binding to the vimentin gene promoter region to enhance its expression. Moreover, NAT10-mediated ac4c modification led to stabilization and overexpression of CEBPB in SACC cells. We also found that NAT10, the only known human enzyme responsible for ac4C modification, promoted SACC cell migration, proliferation and colony formation. Moreover, CEBPB overexpression restored the inhibitory effect of NAT10 knockdown on malignant phenotypes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study reveals the critical role of the newly identified NAT10/CEBPB/vimentin axis in SACC malignant progression, and the findings may be applied to improve treatment for SACC.

Non-Coding RNAs of Mitochondrial Origin: Roles in Cell Division and Implications in Cancer

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a heterogeneous group, in terms of structure and sequence length, consisting of RNA molecules that do not code for proteins. These ncRNAs have a central role in the regulation of gene expression and are virtually involved in every process analyzed, ensuring cellular homeostasis. Although, over the years, much research has focused on the characterization of non-coding transcripts of nuclear origin, improved bioinformatic tools and next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms have allowed the identification of hundreds of ncRNAs transcribed from the mitochondrial genome (mt-ncRNA), including long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), circular RNA (circRNA), and microRNA (miR). Mt-ncRNAs have been described in diverse cellular processes such as mitochondrial proteome homeostasis and retrograde signaling; however, the function of the majority of mt-ncRNAs remains unknown. This review focuses on a subgroup of human mt-ncRNAs whose dysfunction is associated with both failures in cell cycle regulation, leading to defects in cell growth, cell proliferation, and apoptosis, and the development of tumor hallmarks, such as cell migration and metastasis formation, thus contributing to carcinogenesis and tumor development. Here we provide an overview of the mt-ncRNAs/cancer relationship that could help the future development of new biomedical applications in the field of oncology.

Dynamic Role of miRNAs in Salivary Gland Carcinomas: From Biomarkers to Therapeutic Targets

BACKGROUND

Salivary gland carcinomas (SGCs) are a rare group of malignant neoplasms of the head and neck region. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that have been associated with the control biological process and oncogenic mechanism by the regulation of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Recent evidence has suggested that miRNA expression may play a role in the tumorigenesis and carcinogenesis process in SGCs.

METHODS

This review provides a comprehensive literature review of the role of miRNAs expression in SGCs focusing on the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic applications.

RESULTS

In this review, numerous dysregulated miRNAs have demonstrated an oncogenic and suppressor role in SGCs.

CONCLUSION

In the future, these miRNAs may eventually constitute useful diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers that may lead to a better understanding of SGCs oncogenesis. Additionally, the development of therapeutic agents based on miRNAs may be a promising target in SGC treatment.

TPD52 is a Potential Prognostic Biomarker and Correlated with Immune Infiltration: A Pan-cancer Analysis

BACKGROUND

Some tumors have a poor prognosis regarding TPD52 (tumor protein D52). This study aims to explore TPD52's role in the cancer process from a pan-cancer perspective.

METHODS

A pan-cancer analysis was conducted to investigate how TPD52 may be involved in cancer as well as its association with prognosis.

RESULTS

A variety of human cancers express TPD52 abnormally and correlate with clinical stage. There was a significant association between low expression of TPD52 and poor survival in BRCA, KIRP, LAML, LIHC, UCEC, and UVM. TPD52 alterations were most frequently amplified in pan-cancer. The co-occurrence of 10 genes alterations was found in the TPD52 altered group. There was a significant association between TPD52 expression and MSI in four cancer types and TMB in twelve cancer types. There was a significant correlation between TPD52 expression and immunerelated cell infiltration. A significant correlation was found between TPD52 expression in many tumor types and 8 immune checkpoint genes. There were signaling pathways involved in pan-cancer caused by TPD52, including endocytosis, Fc gamma Rmediated phagocytosis, and so on. TPD52 may be involved in chemotherapy and chemoresistance.

CONCLUSION

The TPD52 gene may be important for human cancer treatment.

MiR-200b-5p inhibits tumor progression in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma via targeting BTBD1

Salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) is a rare malignant tumor of the salivary gland. Studies have suggested that miRNA may play a crucial role in the invasion and metastasis of SACC. This study aimed to investigate the role of miR-200b-5p in SACC progression. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blot assay were used to detect the expression levels of miR-200b-5p and BTBD1. The biological functions of miR-200b-5p were evaluated via wound-healing assays, transwell assays, and xenograft nude mice model. The interaction between miR-200b-5p and BTBD1 was assessed using luciferase assay. Results showed that miR-200b-5p was downregulated in the SACC tissues while BTBD1 was upregulated. miR-200b-5p overexpression suppressed SACC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Bioinformatics prediction and luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-200b-5p could directly bind to BTBD1. Besides, miR-200b-5p overexpression could rescue the tumor-promoting effect of BTBD1. miR-200b-5p inhibited tumor progression by modulating EMT-related proteins, targeting BTBD1 and inhibiting PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Overall, our findings indicate that miR-200b-5p can suppress SACC proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT by regulating BTBD1 and PI3K/AKT axis, providing a promising therapeutic target for SACC treatment.

HCG11 inhibits salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma by upregulating EphA2 via binding to miR-1297

OBJECTIVE

Ephrin receptor A2 (EphA2) was reported to be related to the tumorigenesis of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC), which is a rare malignancy accounting for less than 1% of all oral and maxillofacial tumors. This research aimed to assess the molecular mechanisms of EphA2 in SACC.

STUDY DESIGN

The expression of long non-coding RNA human leukocyte antigen complex group 11 (HCG11), microRNA-1297 (miR-1297), and EphA2 in SACC cell lines compared with normal human salivary gland (HSG) cell line was measured by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. EphA2 protein level was detected by western blot. 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), colony formation, Transwell, and wounding healing experiments were applied to evaluate SACC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The relationship among HCG11, miR-1297, and EphA2 was confirmed by luciferase reporter, RNA pulldown, and RNA immunoprecipitation experiments.

RESULTS

HCG11 and EphA2 were downregulated while miR-1297 was upregulated in SACC cells. EphA2 overexpression suppressed SACC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. HCG11 bound to miR-1297 to reduce the inhibition of miR-1297 on EphA2 expression. EphA2 knockdown reversed the suppression of HCG11 overexpression on SACC cell phenotypes.

CONCLUSION

This study identified the HCG11/miR-1297/EphA2 regulatory axis in SACC, which might provide novel therapeutic targets for SACC.

Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of Salivary Glands: A Ten-Year Review and an Assessment of the Current Management, Surgery, Radiotherapy, and Chemotherapy

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare cancer that arises from the salivary glands and other sites in the body, such as the lung and breast. Although the tumor accounts for 10% of all salivary gland malignancies, it only accounts for 1% of head and neck malignancies. It can affect both major and minor salivary glands; here, it is called salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma or SACC, with a slight predilection to the latter, and commonly manifests between the 6_th and 7_th decades of life. The disease also shows a slight female predilection, with a reported female to male ratio of 3 : 2. Lesions of SACC are often insidious and slow-growing, and symptoms such as pain and altered sensation are frequently associated with advanced stages of the disease. Salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma is characterized by perineural invasion (PNI), a distinctive feature that potentially plays a significant role in the tumor's relapse and recurrence, which is approximately 50%. The disease is not prevalent, and its etiopathogenesis is poorly understood, although several genetic patterns and biomarkers have been linked to its initiation and/or progression. The discovery of these mutations and biomarkers has encouraged several clinical studies to use therapeutic agents to target the specific receptors on the cancer cells to potentially prevent further proliferation of the tumor cells and metastasis of the disease. Diagnosis of SACC is often challenging and frequently requires a combination of clinical examination, imaging, and histopathology. Management of SACC is primarily surgical excision, while radiotherapy has shown to be effective in improving local control in cases with microscopic residual disease. However, treatment of recurrent or metastatic tumors by radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy has so far shown limited success. The aim of this thesis is to provide an update of literature on SACC with a particular focus on the latest management approaches and future trends.

The imminent role of microRNAs in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma

Unfortunately, despite the severe problem associated with salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC), it has not been studied in detail yet. Therefore, the time has come to understand the oncogenic cause of SACC and find the correct molecular markers for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic target to tame this disease. Recently, we and others have suggested that non-coding RNAs, specifically microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs, can be ideal biomarkers for cancer(s) diagnosis and progression. Herein, we have shown that various miRNAs, like miR-155, miR‑103a‑3p, miR-21, and miR-130a increase the oncogenesis process, whereas some miRNAs such as miR-140-5p, miR-150, miR-375, miR-181a, miR-98, miR-125a-5p, miR-582-5p, miR-144-3p, miR-320a, miR-187 and miR-101-3p, miR-143-3p inhibit the salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma progression. Furthermore, we have found that miRNAs also target many vital genes and pathways like mitogen-activated protein kinases-snail family transcriptional repressor 2 (MAPK-Snai2), p38/JNK/ERK, forkhead box C1 protein (FOXC1), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), integrin subunit beta 3 (ITGB3), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/NF-κB, programmed cell death protein 4 (PDCD4), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), neuroblastoma RAS (N-RAS), phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, MEK/ERK, ubiquitin-like modifier activating enzyme 2 (UBA2), tumor protein D52 (TPD52) which play a crucial role in the regulation of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma. Therefore, we believe that knowledge from this manuscript will help us find the pathogenesis process in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma and could also give us better biomarkers of diagnosis and prognosis of the disease.

Targeting Ferroptosis Pathway to Combat Therapy Resistance and Metastasis of Cancer

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent regulated form of cell death caused by excessive lipid peroxidation. This form of cell death differed from known forms of cell death in morphological and biochemical features such as apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy. Cancer cells require higher levels of iron to survive, which makes them highly susceptible to ferroptosis. Therefore, it was found to be closely related to the progression, treatment response, and metastasis of various cancer types. Numerous studies have found that the ferroptosis pathway is closely related to drug resistance and metastasis of cancer. Some cancer cells reduce their susceptibility to ferroptosis by downregulating the ferroptosis pathway, resulting in resistance to anticancer therapy. Induction of ferroptosis restores the sensitivity of drug-resistant cancer cells to standard treatments. Cancer cells that are resistant to conventional therapies or have a high propensity to metastasize might be particularly susceptible to ferroptosis. Some biological processes and cellular components, such as epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and noncoding RNAs, can influence cancer metastasis by regulating ferroptosis. Therefore, targeting ferroptosis may help suppress cancer metastasis. Those progresses revealed the importance of ferroptosis in cancer, In order to provide the detailed molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis in regulating therapy resistance and metastasis and strategies to overcome these barriers are not fully understood, we described the key molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis and its interaction with signaling pathways related to therapy resistance and metastasis. Furthermore, we summarized strategies for reversing resistance to targeted therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy and inhibiting cancer metastasis by modulating ferroptosis. Understanding the comprehensive regulatory mechanisms and signaling pathways of ferroptosis in cancer can provide new insights to enhance the efficacy of anticancer drugs, overcome drug resistance, and inhibit cancer metastasis.

Long noncoding RNA MRPL23-AS1 suppresses anoikis in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma in vitro

Distant lung metastasis is the main factor that affects the survival rate of patients with salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC). Anoikis resistance is a feature of tumor cells that easily metastasize. The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) MRPL23 antisense RNA 1 (MPRL23-AS1) is related to lung metastasis in SACC, but its role in anoikis resistance is unknown.After altering MPRL23-AS1 expression in SACC cells, anoikis resistance was detected by calcein AM/PI staining and annexin V/PI flow cytometry. The apoptosis marker activated caspase-3 and the bcl-2/bax ratio were detected by Western blotting. The relationship between MPRL23-AS1 and the promoter of the potential downstream target gene p19INK4D was identified by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-PCR assay. p19INK4D expression in patient tissues was determined using qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.The functional experiments showed that MPRL23-AS1 could promote anoikis resistance in vitro. MRPL23-AS1 recruited the EZH2 to the promoter region of p19INK4D, inhibited p19INK4D expression, and promoted tumor cell anoikis resistance. p19INK4D overexpression did not affect anoikis in attached cells; however, it attenuated the anoikis resistance effect of MPRL23-AS1 in suspension cells. p19INK4D expression was significantly lower in SACC tissues than in normal tissues.The novel MRPL23-AS1/p19INK4D axis may be a potential SACC biomarker or therapeutic target.

Reconstruction and analysis of the aberrant lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network based on competitive endogenous RNA in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary gland

Background

The aim of this work was to investigate the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary gland (SACC).

Methods

Differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs), miRNAs (DEmiRNAs), and mRNAs (DEmRNAs) between cancer tissues and normal salivary gland (NSG) in ACC were identified using data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Functional annotation and pathway enrichment analysis of DEmRNAs were performed using the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases. The miRNAs that are targeted by lncRNAs were predicted using miRanda and PITA, while the target mRNAs of miRNAs were retrieved from miRanda, miRWalk, and TargetScan. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING) database, and then we constructed the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks of ACC.

Results

Differentially expressed RNAs were identified in SACC. Upon comparing cancer tissues and NSG tissues, 103 upregulated and 52 downregulated lncRNAs and 745 upregulated and 866 downregulated mRNAs were identified in GSE88804; in addition, 39 upregulated and 43 downregulated miRNAs were identified in GSE117275. GO enrichment analyses revealed that the most relevant GO terms were regulation of transcription DNA-templated, transcription DNA-templated, and cell division. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly enriched in the cell cycle, pathways in cancer, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, breast cancer, and microRNAs in cancer. The PPI network consisted of 27 upregulated and 54 downregulated mRNAs. By constructing ceRNA network, NONHSAT251752.1-hsa-miR-6817-5p-NOTCH1, NONHSAT251752.1-hsa-miR-204-5p/hsa-miR-138-5p-CDK6 regulatory axises were identified and all genes in the network were verified by qRT-PCR.

Conclusions

The present study constructed ceRNA networks in SACC and provided a novel perspective of the molecular mechanisms for SACC.

Circulating microRNA-103a-3p could be a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent cancer for women worldwide. Recently, a spectrum of cell-free circulating microRNAs (miR) has been recognized as promising biomarkers for BC diagnosis and prognosis, among which miR-103a-3p has been reported in several types of human cancer. However, the role of miR-103a-3p in BC remains unknown. A total of 112 patients with BC and 59 healthy controls were recruited into the present study. The expression level of serum miR-103a-3p was evaluated using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Receiver operating characteristic curves were utilized to calculate diagnostic accuracy. Survival curves were generated to analyze survival outcomes. It was found that circulating miR-103a-3p level was upregulated in patients with BC compared with that in healthy controls, and its expression was decreased following surgery. In addition, miR-103a-3p expression level was also associated with advanced clinicopathological features, including positive epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status, metastasis and an advanced TNM stage. The circulating serum miR-103a-3p level could be used to discriminate between patients with BC and the healthy controls prior to surgery using an area under curve [(AUC), 0.697; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 0.615-0.778], and distinguish patients with BC and metastasis from those without metastasis (AUC, 0.936; 95% CI, 0.892-0.980). In addition, high expression level of miR-103a-3p was associated with worse survival outcomes in patients with BC. In conclusion, the present study suggests that miR-103a-3p could be a potential non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for BC.

Identification of pivotal microRNAs involved in the development and progression of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma

BACKGROUND

miRNAs and mRNAs have been significantly implicated in tumorigenesis and served as promising prognostic biomarkers for human cancer. Hence, this study was aimed to develop the pivotal miRNA biomarkers-based prognostic signature for salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma.

METHODS

The miRNA and mRNA expression data were integrated from the gene expression omnibus database to study their involvement in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma development and progression. Gene ontology and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes were conducted to analyze the biological pathways. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was used to verify the expression of selected miRNAs in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma and corresponding normal tissues.

RESULTS

There were 386 differentially expressed genes: 158 upregulated and 228 downregulated genes and 102 differentially expressed miRNAs: 78 upregulated and 24 downregulated miRNAs in the salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma samples. A miRNA-mRNA network containing 11 miRNAs and 199 genes was subsequently constructed. Gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes enrichment analysis revealed that the genes targeted by the 11 miRNAs were mostly involved in tumor-related pathways and processes, such as miRNAs in cancer, focal adhesion, neurotrophin signaling pathway, and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Among them, 4 miRNAs (miR-375, miR-494, miR-34c-5p, and miR-331-3p) were selected to verify by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR in 36 pairs of collected salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma and adjacent nontumor samples. Overall survival analysis revealed that the higher expression of miR-331-3p was significantly associated with a worst overall survival and multivariate Cox regression analysis suggested that hsa-miR-331-3p could be an independent prognostic factor for salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma.

CONCLUSION

Our results revealed that 4-miRNAs signature was a powerful prognostic biomarker for salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma, which provide a basis for exploring deeper mechanisms regarding the progression of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma, and leading to the development of potential therapeutic strategies.

Screening and Bioinformatics Analysis of Competitive Endogenous RNA Regulatory Network --Related to Circular RNA in Breast Cancer

Purpose

Circular RNA as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) plays a significant role in the pathogenesis and progression of breast cancer. In this study, a circular RNA-related ceRNA regulatory network was constructed, which provides new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the treatment of breast cancer. Materials and methods. The expression profile datasets (GSE101123, GSE143564, GSE50428) of circRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs were downloaded from the GEO database, and then differentially expressed RNAs (DEcircRNAs, DEmiRNAs, DEmRNAs) were obtained through the CSCD, TargetScan, miRDB, and miRTarBase databases. CircRNA-miRNA pairs and miRNA-mRNA pairs were constructed. Finally, a ceRNA regulatory network was established. Downstream analysis of the ceRNA network included GO, KEGG analysis, survival analysis, sub-network construction, the BCIP, and qRT-PCR verification.

Results

In total, 144 differentially expressed (DE) DEcircRNA, 221 DEmiRNA, and 1211 DEmRNA were obtained, and 96 circRNA-miRNA pairs and 139 miRNA-mRNA pairs were constructed by prediction. The ceRNA regulatory network (circRNA-miRNA-mRNA) was constructed, which included 42 circRNA, 36miRNA, and 78 mRNA. GO function annotation showed genes were mainly enriched in receptor activity activated by transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) and in the regulation of epithelial cell apoptosis. KEGG analysis showed genes were mainly enriched in the TGF-beta signaling, PI3K-Akt signaling, and Wnt signaling pathways. Four genes associated with survival and prognosis of breast cancer were obtained by survival analysis, the prognostic sub-network included 4 circRNA, 4 miRNA, and 4 mRNA. BCIP analysis and qRT-PCR verification confirmed that relative mRNA expression levels were consistent with those in the GEO database.

Conclusion

A circRNA-related ceRNA regulatory network was constructed for breast cancer in this study and key genes affecting pathogenesis and progression were identified. These findings may help better understand and further explore the molecular mechanisms that affect the progression and pathogenesis of breast cancer.

Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Exosomes From Very Preterm Infants With Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Impaired Endothelial Angiogenesis: Roles of Exosomal MicroRNAs

Premature infants have a high risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), which is characterized by abnormal development of alveoli and pulmonary vessels. Exosomes and exosomal miRNAs (EXO-miRNAs) from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid are involved in the development of BPD and might serve as predictive biomarkers for BPD. However, the roles of exosomes and EXO-miRNAs from umbilical cord blood of BPD infants in regulating angiogenesis are yet to be elucidated. In this study, we showed that umbilical cord blood-derived exosomes from BPD infants impaired angiogenesis in vitro. Next-generation sequencing of EXO-miRNAs from preterm infants without (NBPD group) or with BPD (BPD group) uncovered a total of 418 differentially expressed (DE) EXO-miRNAs. These DE EXO-miRNAs were primarily enriched in cellular function-associated pathways including the PI3K/Akt and angiogenesis-related signaling pathways. Among those EXO-miRNAs which are associated with PI3K/Akt and angiogenesis-related signaling pathways, BPD reduced the expression of hsa-miR-103a-3p and hsa-miR-185-5p exhibiting the most significant reduction (14.3% and 23.1% of NBPD group, respectively); BPD increased hsa-miR-200a-3p expression by 2.64 folds of the NBPD group. Furthermore, overexpression of hsa-miR-103a-3p and hsa-miR-185-5p in normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) significantly enhanced endothelial cell proliferation, tube formation, and cell migration, whereas overexpressing hsa-miR-200a-3p inhibited these cellular responses. This study demonstrates that exosomes derived from umbilical cord blood of BPD infants impair angiogenesis, possibly via DE EXO-miRNAs, which might contribute to the development of BPD.